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The predation of zooplankton by the blue mussel ...

Description

Citation

The predation of zooplankton by the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the clubbed tunicate (Styela clava)

Author(s)

A. R. LeBlanc, D. Bourque, T. Landry, J. Davidson, N. G. MacNair

Date

2007

Publisher

Gulf Fisheries Centre

Place published

Moncton, N.B.

Pages

18

Abstract

Consumption of planktonic larvae of bivalves, copepods, gastropods and polychaetes byMytilus edulis and Styela clava was evaluated in the laboratory. Two experimental groupsof filter feeders were compared: 1 M. edulis and 1 S. clava. Clearance rates of all preytaxa were similar for M. edulis and S. clava. Ingestion rates (IR) were not differentbetween the two predators except for one occasion when M. edulis had higher IR ofcopepods. Clearance rates of the different prey taxa were not different for either predatorspecies. Mussels and tunicates both consume larvae. However, the abundance of tunicatesin certain areas of PEI may increase the predation pressure on larvae which may decreasemussel larvae collection. Also, tunicates may reduce the food available to mussels whichmight, in turn reduce their reproductive potential.